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Merry Christmas from Bishop Jeffrey Clements
and the staff of the Northern Illinois Synod!

NIS News

Creation, Climate, and the Church – Healing Our “Vitamin C” Deficiency

A morning of reflection for all people of the Northern Illinois Synod Saturday, January 25, 2020 9:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church14206 E Flagg RdRochelle, IL Featuring: Dr. Leah Schade, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary This event sponsored by the NIS Creation Care Committee In an increasingly polarized society, ... read more.

A Christmas Message from Bishop Jeffrey Clements

Bishop Jeff Clements and the staff of the Northern Illinois Synod wish you and yours a very merry Christmas. Watch and listen as Bishop tells a story of Christmas love. Download the video to share in your congregation. read more.

Safeguarding God’s Children workshop 1/15/2020 at St. Barnabas, Cary

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Part of our commission from Jesus ... read more.

Safeguarding God’s Children workshop 2/1/2020 at St. John’s, Ashton

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Part of our commission from Jesus ... read more.

Ignite 2020

Mark your calendars now and plan to spark a fire in the hearts of your High School youth with Ignite – June 12-14 at LOMC! The NIS Light high school youth leadership team is excited to invite your high school youth groups to its first Ignite Synod Youth Event on June 12-14, 2020, at Lutheran ... read more.

2020 Women Leaders Retreat

February 3-4, 2020 Bishop Lane Retreat Center 7708 East McGregor Road, Rockford, IL 61102 Contact Deacon Cheryl Erdmann with questions. Sabbath Seeing On retreat together, we will lean into a variety of Sabbath traditions with the intent to see more clearly and serve more fully our wholeness, wellbeing, and growing edges. For instance, we will take time to ... read more.


 

Read more NIS News

Congregational Events
and Bulletin Board

Shepherd of the Prairie, Huntley invites you to a Blue Christmas service

Shepherd of the Prairie Huntley is hosting a Blue Christmas service on Monday, Dec 16 at 6:30 PM. All are welcome. Blue Christmas is a gentle, contemplative service of remembrance and hope for those who are carrying pain or loss during this season of celebration. For more information, contact Donna Kelly donna@sotpmail.com ...read more...

169th annual Julotta

The 169th annual Julotta (early morning Christmas service) will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover on Wednesday, December 25, at 7 am.  The early starting time and a choir anthem sung in Swedish are part of a long-standing tradition (for many years the service started at 5 am).  The original street lamps, which were ... ...read more...

Immanuel, Dixon Seeks a Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator

Apply online at www.indeed.com Children, Youth, and Family Ministries Duties ·        Enhance and develop youth and family ministries within the congregation. ·        Visit families with children high school age and under. ·        Be available for college-aged members. ·        Work with the Parish Education to develop Christian education for families and children; ·        Work with the Pastor on confirmation education ·        Develop ... ...read more...

December Events at Jenny Lind Chapel in Andover

49TH ANNUAL JOY OF CHRISTMAS WITH AUGUSTANA COLLEGE Wednesday, December 4, 7:30 pm – Students and faculty from Augustana College join the community for this beautiful service of worship and music that starts at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover. The Christmas story will be read in several different languages.  The service concludes with a procession to the Jenny Lind ... ...read more...

Older Adult Webinars

ALOA has much to offer Lutheran congregations in the area of Older Adult Ministry. In addition to the resources on our website, ALOA offers regular Webinars on key topics for Older Adult Ministry that are practical and free of charge. Find complete information and register at aloaserves.org/events/webinars. OctoberAging Parents and Adult Children with Disabilities Thursday, October 31, ... ...read more...

Christmas at Augustana

Christmas at Augustana has become one of the most treasured traditions at Augustana College. Another treasured tradition is our special invitation for ELCA pastors and rostered leaders, with one guest, to join us. This year, Christmas at Augustana will be performed on Saturday, December 7 at 2:00 and Sunday, December 8 at 2:00. Northern Illinois Synod rostered ministers can receive two free tickets for you and a ... ...read more...

Soup for the Soul, Learning Together in the Midst of Grief

 St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, Cary and Bethany Lutheran Church, Crystal Lake, in partnership with Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care Congregational Outreach invite you to a free four-part series on grief. There is no cost to those who attend. Each workshop will cover all kinds of grief: death of a loved one, becoming an empty nester, ... ...read more...


 

Visit the Bulletin Board

Calendar

  • Northeast Conference Meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2019 - 9:30 am
  • West Conference meeting Thursday, December 19, 2019 - 9:30 am
  • Synod Offices Closed Tuesday, December 24, 2019
  • Synod Offices Closed Wednesday, December 25, 2019
  • Synod Offices Closed Thursday, December 26, 2019
  • Synod Offices Closed Friday, December 27, 2019
  • Synod Offices Closed Tuesday, December 31, 2019
  • Synod Offices Closed Wednesday, January 1, 2020
  • Central Conference Meeting Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - 9:00 am
  • Northwest Conference Meeting Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - 9:30 am
  • All Staff Meeting Thursday, January 9, 2020 - 10:00 am
  • Finance Committee Friday, January 10, 2020 - 3:30 pm
  • Executive Committee Friday, January 10, 2020 - 4:30 pm
  • Synod Council meeting Saturday, January 11, 2020 - 9:00 am
Synod Calendar
Upcoming Events

Churchwide News

Lent Resources 2020 

We’re excited to share that ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving will continue in 2020. Together, we’ll experience how the grace of Christ moves us to engage in transformative works of love around the world through ELCA World Hunger as God calls us into the ministry of hope, liberation and restoration. This year, ELCA World ... ...read more...

Living Lutheran Stories December 10, 2019 

Invited into the wilderness Our Advent lectionary readings this year are a rich tapestry. In Matthew’s Gospel, we are swept up together in the comforting but challenging reality of the “already” and the “not yet.” … continue Honor Advent through the saints The weeks leading up to Christmas are a big deal in our house. Since ... ...read more...

Presiding Bishop’s Christmas Message 

A Christmas message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton View & download a video message from Bishop EatonDownload English PDF | Download Spanish PDF The Rev. Elizabeth A. EatonPresiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ...read more...

2020 Rostered Ministers Gathering 

As a rostered minister in the ELCA, you are invited to join colleagues at the 2020 Rostered Ministers Gathering under the theme “Rekindle the Gift Within You” (2 Timothy 1:6). This an opportunity to gather with colleagues across the church for fellowship, renewal, continuing education, Bible study and refreshment of your spirit. Learn more! Watch ... ...read more...

ELCA Good Gifts 

 Animals Water Agriculture Women & Children Christmas Gifts Give something unexpected this Christmas In Christ, we receive the gift of God’s love. Let us share God’s love with others. ELCA Good Gifts are a fun, meaningful way to honor friends and family with gifts that go on to make a difference in the world. ... ...read more...

Seeds Monthly – November 2019 

NEW! Christmas congregational communications tools How will you welcome your friends and neighbors to worship this holiday season? To support your communication needs, we offer several invitational tools specifically for congregations. Add your congregation’s location and service times to customizable posters, social media images, postcards and more. The resources include Advent graphics and posters in English and Spanish, as well ... ...read more...

Insights 

AN E-NEWSLETTER FROM THE ELCA FOUNDATION Welcome to the first edition of Insights, a quarterly newsletter from the ELCA Foundation. In this newsletter you’ll find tips, tools and information to achieve your charitable-giving goals while supporting the people, ministries and causes you love. Know someone else who should receive this e-newsletter? Invite them to subscribe. CHARITABLE ... ...read more...

ELCA Church Council welcomes 23 new members 

​CHICAGO — The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met at the Lutheran Center in Chicago, Nov. 7-10, 2019. Twenty-three new members, elected by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly, were welcomed. The council serves as the ELCA’s board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of the Churchwide Assembly. The council ... ...read more...

Young Adults in Global Mission Applications Open 

Applications for the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program are now open, and you can invite young adults on this yearlong journey abroad. If you know young adults age 21 to 29, this is the time to reach out. Encourage them to apply for YAGM by the priority deadline of Jan. 15, 2020. Talk to them personally ... ...read more...

ELCA Worship News – November 2019 

Greetings, We are about to take a turn into a new church year as we enter into the season of Advent, reminded that this season is about “the church’s continual prayer that God will come (The root of the meaning of ‘advent’) to us, bringing life to a dying world.” (Keeping Time: The Church’s Years, ... ...read more...

ELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarships 

If you are feeling a call to ministry, or if you have any questions about candidacy, please contact Deacon Cheryl Erdmann in the synod office. Greetings from the ELCA Fund for Leaders! The ELCA Fund for Leaders is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that provides scholarships for future ELCA pastors ... ...read more...

ELCA National Youth Gathering Theme Announced 

We are so excited to announce the theme of the 2021 ELCA Youth Gathering, “boundless: God beyond measure.” Our primary Scripture will be Ephesians 3:19 CEV: “I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.” We ... ...read more...

ELCA Stewardnet Fall 2019 

Dear friend in Christ, The possibilities we enjoy in daily life are profoundly affected by the common good that surrounds us. I’m thinking about all the systems, infrastructure, culture, values, etc. that are not for the sole benefit of anyone exclusively but for all of us collectively. Other concepts we might interchange with the common ... ...read more...

ELCA Conference of Bishops welcomes greater diversity 

10/10/2019 ​CHICAGO — The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met here Sept. 26–Sept. 30 under a theme from 2 Corinthians: “We have this treasure in clay jars.” The conference, an advisory body of the ELCA, comprises 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary. The conference welcomed 13 ... ...read more...

ELCA World Hunger – Seeing Things Differently 

by Mikka McCracken From the story of Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit – as told in Acts 2: 17: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your songs and daughters shall prophesy, and your young shall see visions, and ... ...read more...


 

Read more Churchwide News

NIS Prayers


… for family and friends of Leland Uden who died 12/8 

…for Pr. Jeff King and family at the death of his father, Fred, on 12/9/2019 

…for family and friends of Pr. Howard Jacobson who died 11/29 

…for family and friends of Pr. Chuck Steinke who died 11/19/2019 

…for St. Paul, Orion and Pr. Gwen Sefrhans-Murphy as she is installed there 1/12 

…for St. John’s, Somonauk and Pr. Chris Schoon as she is installed there 12/8 

…for Shepherd of the Hills, Scales Mound and Pr. James Mehltretter as he is installed there 11/17 

… for Zion, Belvidere and Pr. David Petersen as he is installed there 11/16 

…for the congregation of Living Waters, Crystal Lake 

…for Pr. Amy Nyman and family at the death of her husband, Bertil 

…for Pr. Amy Nyman facing surgery for cancer 

….for Pr. Jane McChesney, First, Rockford, battling cancer 

…for NIS candidates for rostered ministry 


NIS candidates for rostered ministry

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, NIS Bishop Jeffrey Clements, and their staffs and families.

Congregations going through vacancies and rostered leaders in transition.

ELCA Prayer Ventures

ELCA missionaries and Young Adults in Global Mission (read this month's ELCA Global Links newsletter).

Those not named here who are hospitalized or otherwise need our prayers.

Send prayer requests to karin@nisynod.org.
The purpose of this e-newsletter is to convey information from synod staff, churchwide, committees, auxiliaries, and congregations. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. 
Send submissions to Deacon Karin Graddy, Assistant to the Bishop for Communication karin@nisynod.org
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